Gridiron Arizona's 2023 Recruiting Update: 4/11

UPDATED: 4/11/22

Colleges across the nation continue to take notice of the prep talent in Arizona each season. More than 340 players from the Class of 2022 have signed with schools to advance their football careers, and receive an education.

Earning his 29th offer last Wednesday was Kyler Kasper. The Williams Field wide receiver got it from Mississippi State. Kasper, who is 6-5 and 195 pounds, was the Black Hawks' leading receiver last year. He had 51 catches for 943 yards and scored nine touchdowns. Kasper's high game was a 200-yard effort (in just six catches) in a 37-35 shootout win over Desert Ridge. Last weekend, he went on an unofficial visit to Tennessee and has the Vols in his Top 10. Mississippi State is in the middle of its spring practices. The Bulldogs will have their annual Spring Game on Saturday, April 16 in Starkville as part of Super Bulldog Weekend. Last season, MSU went 7-6 and played in the Liberty Bowl. Tennessee does not appear on the Miss State schedule this year, but Alabama (road Oct. 22) and Georgia (home Nov. 12) do.

Alex Doost is a 6-6, 290-pound offensive tackle at Mountain Ridge. A 3-star pick for the Class of '23, he is now up to 17 offers as Northwestern extended an offer last Tuesday. Doost has offers from three schools in the Big Ten and squatted 475 pounds (five reps) last month. He also holds offers from Indiana and Michigan State. Doost helped the Mountain Lions to an 8-4 record behind an offense that averaged 40 points and 274 passing yards per game. Northwestern will kick off its season a week early on Aug. 27. It will be a conference game, but it won't be played in the Midwest. The Wildcats will be in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland against Nebraska. Northwestern was 3-9 in 2021.

One of the First Team honorees from the 5A Conference last season, Cole Shivers, collected a Pac-12 offer last Monday. It came from Washington State for the Saguaro secondary player. Shivers, a 5-11, 170-pound cornerback, has been busy this spring navigating his recruitment. He recently completed visits to Arizona, Iowa State, and Colorado. Last season, Shivers had 31 tackles for the Sabercats, who won the Open Division title. The offer from the Cougars is his third from the Pac-12, and 14th overall. Washington State is preparing for its Crimson and Gray Game. The annual spring event is scheduled for Saturday, April 23 and will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network at 3 p.m. This is the first spring game for head coach Jake Dickert, who was named the full-time coach after serving as the interim for the final five games last season. WSU went 7-6 and played in the Sun Bowl in 2021.

Another defensive player in the East Valley is Aiden Herring, who received another offer last Saturday. It came from Nevada for the D-End from Perry. Herring, a 6-3, 260-pounder, was a Second Team All-6A Premier Region selection last season. In his junior year, he totaled 57 tackles and 12 sacks. Perry is prepping for spring ball with Saturday morning workouts during the month of April led by new head coach Joseph Ortiz. The offer from the Wolf Pack is his second from an FBS school. Nevada is getting set for its "Battle Born Showdown", or spring game, to take place in Reno on April 23. Admission to the football event is free and it's part of a big day of activities, including an exhibition soccer game, a softball game (vs. New Mexico), and a tennis match (vs. San Diego State). The Wolf Pack finished 8-5 last season and played in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit.

Keeping it in the state of Nevada, Tre' Spivey gained an offer from UNLV last Wednesday. Spivey is a 6-4, 190-pound receiver at Hamilton. He caught 26 passes for for 394 yards and scored seven touchdowns. Spivey is a four-sport athlete, including baseball. On Saturday, he was in Tucson for the University of Arizona spring game. A week earlier, Spivey was preparing for the season by playing in a 7-on-7 tournament for Tucson Turf. UNLV will hold its Spring Showcase on April 23 at Allegiant Stadium. It will feature a controlled scrimmage with free admission and free parking for Rebel fans. UNLV just finished up its second week of practices. The Rebels, 2-10 last season, will finish their schedule on Nov. 26 at home in Las Vegas against Nevada.

Basha safety Jeremiah Vessel already had 20 offers, but this week he got something new - a pair from the prestigious Ivy League. Pennsylvania and Columbia were the duo extending them to the defensive back that moved to Arizona from Louisiana before his junior year. Vessel (6-0, 185), had 47 tackles and two sacks as the Bears ran the table in the regular season and qualified for the Open Division tournament. Now that he's had a taste of that competition, he and his returning teammates (of which there are many) are driven to get a ring. Penn has a new offensive coordinator for this year as Dan Swanstrom has returned to Philadelphia. For the past five years, he was the head coach at Ithaca (N.Y.). Prior to that, he was the quarterbacks coach at Penn, where the Quakers captured a pair of Ivy League titles. Penn finished 3-7 last year. Columbia, located in New York City, has completed seven of its 11 spring practices leading up to its Spring Game on April 23. The Lions were 7-3, which marked the third-highest total since Columbia joined the Ivy League in 1956. More success is expected as the team returns 18 starters (10 on offense). One of those wins in 2021 was a Homecoming triumph over Penn (23-14). The Quakers will get a chance at revenge on Oct. 15 in Pennsylvania.

Here's the rest of the offers since last Monday (4/4):

Saguaro cornerback Levi Robins received his first offer from Columbia.
Pusch Ridge offensive tackle/defensive end Will Way received an offer from Northern Arizona.
Mountain Ridge defensive end Jason Kirkland received his first offers from Butler (Ind.) and Valparaiso (Ind.).
Red Mountain wide receiver Lenox Lawson received an offer from Northern Colorado.

This list shows four-year college offers received by juniors throughout the state. It's not limited to just 6A and 5A. It will be constantly updated as we approach the Early Signing Period from December 14-16. Those are the first days that high school seniors can sign a letter of intent to agree to attend an institution.

Verbal commitments are shown in bold.

CLASS OF 2023 OFFERS

Brendan Anderson - Mountain Ridge (QB): Yale

Ryan Blum - Basha (C): New Mexico State, Northern Arizona, San Diego

Jackson Bowers - Mesa Mountain View (TE): Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, Baylor, BYU, California, Cincinnati, Colorado, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, LSU, Michigan State, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Oregon, Oregon State, UNLV, USC, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Yale

Taye Brown - Hamilton (LB): Idaho State, New Mexico State

Deshaun Buchanan - Basha (RB): Arizona, Grambling State, New Mexico State, Northern Arizona, Portland State

Aidan Buggs - Casteel (OG): Whittier

John Butler - Saguaro (LB): Arizona

Roch Cholowsky - Hamilton (QB/P): New Mexico State

Kavaughn Clark - Centennial (RB): Nevada, Northern Arizona

Daniel Contreras - River Valley (OG): Arizona Christian

Zaccheus Cooper - Saguaro (RB): Alcorn State, Morgan State, New Mexico

Stephon Daily - Sierra Linda (WR): Army, Colorado State, Hawaii, Nevada, Northern Arizona

Devon Dampier - Saguaro (QB): Air Force, Arizona, Idaho State, Nevada, New Mexico, Northern Arizona, Pennsylvania, Rice, Yale

Ryan Davis - O'Connor (DE): Idaho State, Northern Arizona

Alex Doost - Mountain Ridge (OT): Arizona, Arizona State, California, Colorado, Colorado State, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan State, Nevada, Northern Arizona, Northwestern, Oregon State, San Diego State, Utah State, Washington, Washington State, West Virginia

Layton Duncan - Brophy (WR): Idaho State, Morgan State

James Durand - Basha (OG): Arizona, BYU, California, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa State, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Oregon State, Pennsylvania, Princeton, San Diego State, Utah, Utah State, Wisconsin, Yale

AJ Dutchover - Highland (OG): Concordia Coll. (Minn.), Grinnell

Joshua Dye - Williams Field (RB): Northern Arizona

Josiah Dye - Williams Field (CB): Army, Northern Arizona, Utah State

Jack Endean - Tanque Verde (OT): Arizona, California, OKLAHOMA STATE

Deric English - Saguaro (WR): Arizona, Arizona State, Florida State, Louisville, Michigan State, Missouri, Morgan State, Northern Arizona, Oregon, Utah, Washington

Shea Freibaum - Saguaro (LS): Marshall

My'Keil Gardner - Liberty (DE): Arizona, Arizona State, California, Colorado, Colorado State, Fresno State, Iowa, Iowa State, Nebraska, Nevada, Northern Arizona, Oregon, Oregon State, San Diego State, Texas, UCLA, USC, Utah State, Washington State, Wisconsin

Gavin Geweniger - Chaparral (DE): Colorado State, Nevada, UNLV, Washington

Jordan Gile - Mesa Mountain View (QB): Florida International, Kansas, Missouri S&T, Missouri Western State, San Diego State

Austin Glimpse - Sunrise Mountain (QB): Grinnell

Carlos Griffin - Saguaro (CB): Army, Syracuse

Terrance Hall - Mountain Ridge (WR): Morgan State

Dominic Hanger - Chandler (LB): Augustana Univ. (S. Dak.)

Aiden Herring - Perry (DE): Air Force, Army, Idaho, Idaho State, Nevada, Northern Arizona

Damian Jiles - Cactus (RB): Montana Tech

Sirri Kandiyeli - Mesa Mountain View (OT): Arizona State, New Mexico State

Kyler Kasper - Williams Field (WR): Arizona, Arizona State, California, Colorado, Duke, Georgia, Iowa, Iowa State, Louisville, LSU, Miami (Fla.), Michigan State, Mississippi State, Missouri, Morgan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, TCU, Tennessee, UCLA, USC, Utah, Vanderbilt

Jason Kirkland - Mountain Ridge (DE): Butler, Valparaiso

Matthew Klopfenstein - Horizon (TE): Arizona, Arizona State, BAYLOR, Buffalo, California, Colorado, Houston, Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas, Louisville, Massachusetts, Michigan, Michigan State, Nevada, Oregon State, Pittsburgh, San Diego State, Tennessee, Utah State, Washington, Washington State, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Ja'Kobi Lane - Red Mountain (WR): Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Iowa State, Massachusetts, Nevada, Northern Arizona

Lenox Lawson - Red Mountain (WR): Idaho State, New Mexico State, Northern Colorado, Southern Utah

Cooper LeDuc - Hamilton (CB): New Mexico State

Myles Libman - Pinnacle (WR): Arizona, Arizona State, Columbia, Idaho State, Pennsylvania, Portland State

Caleb Lomu - Highland (OT): Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, California, Indiana, Nevada, Northern Arizona, Oregon State, San Diego State, UNLV, Utah, Utah State, Washington, Washington State

Cole Martin - Basha (CB): Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Duke, Florida, Florida Atlantic, Florida State, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa State, Kansas, Louisville, LSU, Michigan State, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, Northern Arizona, Notre Dame, OREGON, San Jose State, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA, USC, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Nicolas Martin - Chandler (OG): Graceland

Gianni Mascolino - Cooldige (QB): Washington

Sean Mathews - Thunderbird (LB): Grinnell

Kaiden McCarty - Eastmark (FS): Ottawa

Alex McLaughlin - Hamilton (LB): Illinois State, New Mexico State, Ohio

Wyatt Milkovic - Basha (LB): Army, BOISE STATE, California, Colorado, Colorado State, Iowa State, Nevada, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Northern Arizona, Utah State

Aaron Monroe Jr. - Centennial (CB): Arizona Christian

Andereya Nsubuga Jr. - Chandler (CB): Portland State

Elijah Paige - Pinnacle (OT): Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, BYU, California, Cincinnati, Colorado, Colorado State, Duke, Indiana, Kansas, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, San Diego State, Stanford, Tennessee, UCLA, USC, Utah, Utah State, Washington, Washington State, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Keona Peat - Corona del Sol (OG): Fort Valley State, Johnson C. Smith

Porter Reynolds - Queen Creek (LB): Colorado, Washington State

Dylan Roberts - Centennial (DT): Arizona, California, Northern Arizona, Northwestern

Levi Robins - Saguaro (CB): Columbia

Duce Robinson - Pinnacle (TE): Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Clemson, Florida Atlantic, Florida State, Georgia, Iowa State, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Nevada, New Mexico, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pittsburgh, San Jose State, Texas A&M, UCLA, UNLV, USC, Utah, Washington

Dorae Scott - Basha (WR): New Mexico State

Cole Shivers - Saguaro (CB): Arizona, Boise State, Buffalo, Colorado, Florida State, Fresno State, Iowa State, Kansas, Nevada, Northwestern, UNLV, Utah State, Washington State, Wisconsin

Tyson Simmons - Basha (DE): Nevada

Genesis Smith - Hamilton (FS): Arizona, Army, New Mexico State, Northern Arizona, San Diego State, Utah State

Tre' Spivey - Hamilton (WR): Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado State, Kansas State, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Northern Arizona, Portland State, UNLV, Utah State, Washington State, Wisconsin

Griffin Stalfort - Hamilton (LS): New Mexico State

Richard Stallworth - Yuma Catholic (QB): Adams State

Mason Stromstad - Marcos de Niza (FS): Whittier

Nick Switzer - Hamilton (RB): New Mexico State

Viliani Tongotea - Buckeye (RB): Arizona Christian

Jeremiah Vessel - Basha (S): Arizona State, Boise State, Buffalo, Colorado, Columbia, Grambling State, Iowa State, Kansas, Liberty, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana Tech, Louisville, Memphis, Michigan State, Mississippi State, New Mexico State, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, SMU, Southern, Tulane, Virginia

Blake Ware - O'Connor (LB): Lake Forest, Puget Sound

A'Mauri Washington - Chandler (DT): Arizona, Arizona State, Florida State, Iowa State, LSU, Michigan, Northern Arizona, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC, Utah, Washington

Demari Washington - Centennial (FS): Army, Colorado

Pierson Watson - Coconino (LB): Nevada

Will Way - Pusch Ridge (OT/DE): Idaho State, Northern Arizona, South Dakota

Jaron Winters - Mountain Ridge (C): Mayville State

Tanner Wood - River Valley (LB/RB): Arizona Christian

UPDATED: 4/8/22

After an unofficial visit to Baylor two weeks ago, Matthew Klopfenstein said he was blown away with what the Bears' program had to offer. On Thursday, he held a commitment ceremony at Horizon High School in the centrally-located quad and verbally committed to BU.

"It is an overall great program," Klopfenstein said in a text message. "The culture is rich and I can't wait to be a part of it."

The 6-5, 230-pound tight end caught 45 passes for 575 yards and scored 10 touchdowns during a breakthrough junior year for the Huskies. Horizon won the 5A Conference championship in 2021 after a 12-2 season.

Baylor offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes loves to use the tight end in his scheme. Last season, Ben Sims and Drake Dabney combined for 41 catches, 452 yards, and eight touchdowns for the Bears, who went 12-2 and won the Sugar Bowl over Ole Miss.

Klopfenstein is the ninth known commitment for Baylor in the '23 class and second tight end. He had 24 offers, including Louisville, Michigan State, and Arizona.

Baylor is at about the halfway point of its spring drills. The Bears finished up a third week of practice on Thursday and will scrimmage this Saturday. The annual Green & Gold Spring Game is set for Saturday, April 23 at 10 am Arizona time. Baylor kicks off its 2022 season at home in Waco's McLane Stadium against FCS-opponent Albany (2-9 in 2021) on Sept. 3.

Another Valley player impressed with a college visit made his decision on Friday as Wyatt Milkovic committed to Boise State. The Basha linebacker was offered by the Broncos last Friday upon his arrival to Boise, went on what he called a "great visit" where he had an "awesome time" over the weekend and has chosen BSU.

Milkovic played on the inside for the Bears last season and led the team in tackles with 132. Basha finished 10-1 and made the Open Division playoffs for the first time. Milkovic had 4.5 sacks and forced two fumbles.

Arizona Varsity's Cody Cameron caught up with Milkovic earlier this week and discussed his visits to Utah State and Boise State in a video interview. Milkovic had 11 offers, including Nevada, Colorado, Cal, and Iowa State.

Milkovic is the second commitment for Boise State in this class. The other is a name familiar to Arizona HS football fans as quarterback CJ Tiller was the first to pledge to the Broncos. Tiller has recently moved to Southern California and will play his senior year at Rancho Cucamonga HS.

This week, Boise State announced plans for an Athletics Master Village. The project includes facility improvements and additions for all 18 of its sports programs. Included for the football team are completion of a 360-degree concourse, increasing capacity of Albertsons Stadium to 40,000 (from its current 36,400), and renovating the restrooms and concessions. Boise State finished 7-5 last season and was invited to the Arizona Bowl in Tucson, but had to withdraw due to COVID-19 issues. The Broncos begin 2022 with a trip to Corvallis to face Oregon State (7-6 last year) on Sept. 3.

BAYLOR BEARS

Matthew Klopfenstein (TE) - Horizon

BOISE STATE BRONCOS

Wyatt Milkovic (LB) - Basha

OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

Jack Endean (OT) - Tanque Verde

OREGON DUCKS

Cole Martin (CB) - Basha